Not that it matters, but it's fun to watch how we fall in these lists. FWIW, kinda surprised to see Miami at 14, also a little surprised to see New England at 9. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...gs-injuries-keep-broncos-seahawks-below-49ers
#14 is high. Higher than the Giants, Cowboys? Redskins and Vikings are way high. Giants and Cowboys way low.
The Redskins are legit, if they can stay healthy no one in that division can beat them. Dunno about the Vikings, haven't studied them. The Giants and Cowboys are 8-8 material but always good for boosting TV ratings.
Thats exactly how I feel about the NYG. Talent wise they are heads and tails better then everyone else especially on offense and DL. If Eli is going to play like he did in 2011 then the NFC is in for a long year. If he plays like 2012 then Washington can grab the division.
I agree with the 14th ranking. We have huge potential but could also fall flat and be a huge disappointment. The Niners i do agree with at 1 but they have been hit by the injury bug, and the league has had time to study Kaepernick. In my opinion, just like last year is that Denver is over rated, but they play in the AFC West, and the AFC is lacking in top quality teams overall.
And I think people are severely underestimating what Carson Palmer can do. Especially with that offense. I expect a monster year from Fitz. Also, Floyd and Housler could blossom into big stars. I'm surprised the Saints are so low. I fully expect them to be an 11-5 or better team. Payton is back and I think Rob Ryan will improve that defense.
The Redskins were without Garcon and Fred Davis, probably their top two receivers for most of 2012. RG3 was never 100% after the Baltimore game. Meriweather and Tanard Jackson, the starting safeties hardly played at all. Orakpo and Carriker, two of their top players at DL/LB were gone after week 2. They started 3-6 and still won the division. JMO but I think it's their division to lose.
Palmer is light years ahead of Kolb or Skelton and their defense is legit but the NFCW is so stacked, I don't see how they climb outta the bottom of the barrel. The saints can;t play any worse than they did last year defensively but Ryan is not a cure all. He couldn't make it work with Ware, Spencer, Ratliff, Claiborne, Carr etc and he'll have far less talent in Nawlins.
In all fairness, The cowboys defense was crushed by injuries. I thought RR did pretty well considering.
i wish....10-6 is a great record for the phins if they can pull it off....if they make is to the playoffs it will be awesomeeeee
Yeah and the nyg were without hakeem nicks and Terrell Thomas. They also has JPP, Tuck, and Bradshaw playing hurt all year. The OL was a disaster and the DL which was supposed to be a strength was undone by injuries. Lastly, whenever the NYG win the SB they always have a SB hangover the next year or something goes wrong (like the whole Burress thing). They will be back imo.
IIRC correctly the Giants started 10-0 in 2008, I wish the Fins could have a hangover like that. You make some good points, the Giants were hit by the injury bug, the Cowboys as well like Clark Kent mentioned. Healthiest team wins, maybe?
I wouldn't pick us to beat the Giants or the Steelers on a neutral field this season. The NFC East is always so unpredictable. Mostly because the Giants can beat the crap out of anyone (ATL, GB, NE in the playoffs), or put up stretches of horrible football playing down to their competition. I think they win the East this year after last season's we just won the superbowl dropoff. The NFC West is loaded, probably the best division in the League. I love our position in the AFC - outside of Brady and Manning, lots of the playoff contender teams have significant question marks (Cincy and Indy were some of the weakest playoff teams of late, imo). Our division sucks, too.
I don't understand. The ranking is supposed to be in the 25-29 range so we can all reflexively complain
Expectations shouldn't be set until after the first four games show us if we are who we think we are.
Agreed. hell, he did the impossible in Oakland last year and had a good year. He made Derek Hagan look good in a few games for christ sakes! With Fitz? Should be a monster combination, especially with Palmer never being shy about airing it out. Nice to see the fins at 14 - which is almost sad in a way. Let's keep it moving towards #1!!